Eddie and the kids arrived home, after a long day of driving, but Bella had been so happy, she got so much stuff in Ireland for Dancing, new shoes and a new dress, her old one was a little short getting, and her shoes were the super flexi ones that she had been wanting for ages.
As Eddie drove into the Drive way Bella jumped out the car with her brother not far behind and ran up to the front door. There was an extra car in the drive way which they recognised as Rachels Audi TT.
"Not so fast you two" Eddie shouted as Rachel opened the door and they ran inside.
Rachel laughed at the site of Eddie trying to carry all the cases in himself.
"You'll hurt your back Eddie" she said walking up and giving him a quick peck causing him to drop the cases. He put his now free hands around her and kissed her deepily, it had been too long.
"So Miss Mason, what are you doing here?" Eddie asked
"Well, I thought I'd get you some messages in, and I missed you" she said.
Eddie smiled and Rachel helped him bring the bags and cases into the house.
"So how was your sisters visit?" Eddie asked
"It was nice, but it was nicer when she left" Rachel joked.
Rebecca walked over to Eddie "Did you get me a present?" she asked.
"Rebecca, that is rude" Rachel scolded.
"Sorry" she said to Eddie and climbed onto his lap.
"Well, it's your lucky day" he said opening on of the cases and pulling out her toys from Dublin.
"Thank you Eddie" she shrieked in delight running off to show Bella.
Eddie looked at Rachel, she seemed tense, there was something wrong.
"Rachel, is something wrong?"
"Yeah, it's Max, he's got a new job, as Head Teacher at John Fosters, I don't know what to do, he has no idea I live here, I don't want him near Rebecca"
"He's her Father Rachel, you need to talk to him, find out what he want's if he doesn't want contact with her then you need to make sure it stays that way, get some professional help"
"I know, he left us once, I know it sounds horrible, but I hope he doesn't want her, it would make things easier"
"You need to talk to him Rachel, if you want me to be there I will"
"Thanks Eddie" she said cuddling him, she felt better now that he knew, and she knew he would stand by her.
...
Bella came down stairs, she wanted to show Rachel her new dress.
"Hi Rachel" she said cheerily giving her a big hug.
"Oh Darling, did you have a good time" Rachel said.
"Yep, look what I got" she pulled out her dress, and held it up to her body.
"Wow, that is very pretty" Rebecca said as she came bounding in.
"Yes it is" Rachel agreed, and Bella pulled more things from her case.
"I got this for you" she said handing her a pen which said Ráichéal "It's your name in Gaelic" she explained
"Wow, I love it honey" Rachel was chuffed that Bella thought about her when she was away.
"Well, we better get going" Rachel said, "Get this little one off to bed" she picked up Rebecca who started to cry.
"I want to stay here" she cried, she was getting tired and starting to get a little cranky.
"We have to go home honey" Rachel said.
"Rachel your more than welcome to stay" Eddie said
"Please Mummy" she said "I have pyjamas already"
Yhat was true, Rachel and Rebecca had spent so much time here recently that they both had spare clothes and things.
"OK Rebecca, but it's bed time now, so let's go get you in the bath" Rachel said as she took her upstairs.
Eddie was getting his things ready for work the next day, the kids both had school to go to and Rachel wanted to give Max a call, before they had to meet officially.
Eddie was working the next day, and the morning was not going well so far. Both Rachel and Eddie had stayed up far too late the night before and both of them slept through the alarm, they were only awoken when Rebecca came running into their room bouncing on the bed, it was 8am already.
"Jesus" Rachel said "I have a meeting in 30 minutes" she jumped out of bed and into the shower.
"What" Eddie said glancing at the clock, he was supposed to be in work for 8. He jumped out of bed pulled his clothes on and ran into the bathroom to quickly brush his teeth before shouting at his kids to get up and dressed.
Bella and Michael got up slowly they were not looking forward to their first day back.
"Bella hurry up" Eddie shouted.
After a while they were all dressed and downstairs.
"Dad whats for breakfast?" Bella asked
"Cereal" he said chucking her the box, she poured some cornflakes and Rachel came downstairs dressed with Rebecca.
"I really need to go Rachel, can you take Michael" Eddie asked.
"Yes, course I can" Michael groaned.
"Can you drop me at the spar" he replied.
"Michael I thought you were OK with us" Eddie said
"I am just don't want to be dropped of in school by the head, anyway Danielle knows"
"Right Bella, come one, lets get to school" Eddie said to his youngest daughter, he dropped her off, and Rachel dropped Michael at the Spar.
"You want some breakfast?" Michael asked
"No thanks, Im not a breakfast person" Rachel replied
Once Rachel got to school she put Becca into the nursery and phoned Max, she had to speak to him, and tell him herself before someone else told him.
...
Eddie dropped his daughter off at school, before heading to the station, he ran to the locker room, got changed and went to talk to the Sergeant coming off shift, to find out about any developments. He was glad everything had been all quiet, which made a pleasant change.
Rachel dropped Michael off before heading to her office to call Max. She picked up the phone, and called John Fosters. She hoped he wasn't in, but once she spoke to the receptionist, she found he was in.
"Max Tyler speaking" he said his voice causing Rachel to shudder, it was as cold and boring as ever.
"Max, it's Rachel" she said.
"Rachel who?"
"Em, Rachel Mason, your ex wife" she said
"Rachel, how did you find me" he asked slightly angered, he thought he had got rid of her when they got divorced.
"I'm head teacher at Waterloo Road, I heard you had taken over at John Fosters. I just thought that we should talk, if we are both going to be living close, and working close"
"Oh come off it Rachel, you followed me here"
"What, no, Max I've been here for almost a year now, I just want to know where we stand, do you want to see Rebecca or not"
"Of course I do Rachel, but I thought after everything that happened with Philip you wouldn't want me to be near her"
"She's your daughter Max, I just don't want her to get hurt"
"Rachel, I would never hurt her, but how, should we do this"
"We do it right, I'll call my lawyer, get them to write up a formal custody plan, I'll send it to your Lawyer"
"Thank you Rachel, look how about we go for a drink, catch up on old times" Max said, he had softened slightly to her.
"No Max, I think we should keep our relationship to work and Rebecca only, besides, I'm seeing someone, I'll have my lawyer call you" Rachel said before hanging up.
Michael was dropped off at the spar where he met Dom and Bolton.
"All right Mike" Bolton said patting him on the back
"What you up to guys" Michael said
"Not much, was that Mason's car you got out of" Dom asked
"Eh, yeah, she, em, well she"
"Is she your girl friend" Bolton asked jokingly
"No, she's my Dad's girlfriend," he said as he started to walk towards the school.
"Where you going, Towns that way" Bolton said
"Em, well, I better go to school" Michael replied.
"Nah Mate, you want to come into Town with us" Dom said, and Michael reluctantly agreed, following his friends.
...
Once they were in Town, Michael started to feel slightly guilty, he didn't want to disappoint anyone, so he made an excuse and headed back to school.
He got there too late, he missed registration, and part of English, he arrived late to Mr Trenemans class.
"Your late young man" Andrew said
"Sorry" Michael said before taking the seat next to Paul.
"Do you think it's expectable to just walk in, with no reason for being late"
"I apologised" Michael stated
"You can have a lunchtime detention for your lateness" Michael nodded, and got on with his essay they were writing.
Eddie and Smithy were in the patrol car, driving down the high street. They had been talking about Jane, Smithy was in love with her, and the two of them were getting on great. Eddie was glad, he shouldn't have favourites but he did like Dale, reminded him a lot of himself.
"Should they not be in school" Smithy said, pointing to a couple of kids who were obviously up to no good.
"Yep, they should, Bolton and Dom, if I remember right, lets drive round the back and get them" Eddie said.
What Eddie and Smithy hadn't realised was the Dom had just stolen some stuff from the shop.
"Ohi, you two" Eddie said as they approached the two boys, who took to their heels and ran.
Eddie started to run after them, followed by Smithy. Bolton ran one way and Smithy followed, Eddie ran after Dom, but couldn't keep up, so went to where Smithy was.
"Right Bolton, what's going on" Eddie asked.
"Nothing, we ain't done nothing"
"Then, why did you run" Eddie asked
"Because , Well, I don't know, I just followed Dom"
"Search him PC Smith" Eddie said. Thankfully for Bolton, they didn't find anything. Bolton was facing Eddie.
"Watch out" Bolton shouted, but it was too late Dom had an Iron Bar, and hit Eddie across the head.
Eddie hit the ground, and Smithy ran to his side, but Dom ran off. Smithy called for backup and an Ambulance, but Eddie was unconscious.
...
It was Lunch Time and Eddie was just going into A&E, and Smithy had taken Bolton down to the station, and another officer was about to take him back to school.
Colin was at work when he heard his phone go, he didn't recognise the number, but answered anyway. It was Saint Hughes, he had been told about his brother since he was next of Kin,
Colin went to the hospital, Eddie was unconscious, but Stable which was a relief to him, he thought it would be best to get the kids from School.
Rachel was sitting in her office when Andrew came in.
"Andrew, have you had a good day" Rachel asked.
"Yes, my first class was quiet, we have No Bolton or Dom today, and Michael was late, missed half the class, he's in the cooler just now"
"Wait, Michael was late, that's not possible I drove him to, well near to school" Rachel stated.
"He was late, missed more than half my class" Andrew said and Rachel made a mental note to have a talk with him later, but it would have to wait as someone had just knocked her door.
It was A policeman with Bolton.
"Miss Mason, we have had a little incident, this boy and Dominic Campbell were found in the high street, after a chase, Dominic assaulted one of our officers"
"What, which officer" Rachel asked worriedly, but the policeman did not need to answer, Rachel's office door flew opened and Bella ran in.
"Rachel, it's Daddy, he's hurt" she shouted with Colin behind her. The colour drained from Rachel's face.
"Andrew can you please take Bolton to the cooler, and bring Michael Lawson here" she said as she hugged Bella who was in tears.
Once Michael was in Rachel's office they went to the hospital, and left Andrew to deal with Bolton and the Police.
...
Rachel got into her Car with Bella, and Michael got into Colin's car.
"Rachel, will Daddy be OK" Bella asked, but Rachel didn't know the answer to that question.
"I don't know honey, but we'll be there soon" She said trying to reassure the little girl next to her. They arrived at the hospital, and after they got shown to where he was, everyone was shocked. Eddie was asleep, his head had a bandage wrapped around it, and he was wired up to a machine.
"What's that for?" Michael asked
"It's just to monitor you Dad" the nurse said simply and Bella sat on the chair next to him and took his hand.
Colin and Rachel went outside to speak to the nurse, who explained that Eddie was not in a coma, he was simply sleeping, and in a stable condition. The Nurse explained that they would have to wait until he woke up to see if their was any permanent damage.
Rachel went back into the room with Colin and stood behind Bella, Michael was sat in an opposite seat. Rachel had never seen him so upset before, she seen the tears starting to flow from his eyes.
"The Nurse said he's just asleep" Rachel said "he's not in a coma" she added
"So, he'll be OK" Michael said.
"We don't know yet, we need to wait for him to wake up" Colin said.
"Who hurt him" Michael asked.
"He was chasing a couple of kids, one of them hit him on the head" Rachel explained, without mentioning who did it yet.
Bella looked at her Dad, and seen his eyes flutter.
"Dad, he's wakening up" Bella shouted happily.